Lake Mead... What would you do...?

[Woody62]

Ok, Lake Mead Boaters...

Planning first trip to Mead and need some help with options and a lot of questions.

Two adults spending 1 day (8am to 5pm) in mid August on Lake Mead and coming in from Vegas. Will be renting a boat from either Vegas Bay Marina- 21' Bayliner which must be kept in Boulder Basin or 21' Ebbtide from Callville which has no lake restriction but a further car drive in the morning. Each should hold about 30 gal of fuel, but not sure how far that will get me.

I think I prefer the Bayliner boat from Vegas better (it appears 2 can lay flat), but given that it's only 1 day and lake restricted to Boulder (to end of the narrows) does that matter? What am I missing by staying in Boulder Bay but would have been reachable from Callville in the Virgin Bay? I know I want to stop by Hoover Dam for some pics so I will be at the far West end for sure.

Where should I make sure to go and is there enough to see and stop at in Boulder? I hear a lot about Temple Bar in Virgin Basin but that's a 1 1/2 hour run at WOT just to get there! 3 hours of run time for at 7-8 hr rental?? Also, anyone know if these boats hold enough fuel to make it a day and what are the best spots to pull into and get out or the "must see nooks" I hear Sandy Beach and Swallow Bay?

Oh Ya, if all the cruising is worth it, what's the price of gas at the Boulder marina(s)- I'm sure it's going to hurt!

Apparently these boats don't have depth/gps units either- is there a strong cell signal (AT&T or Verizon) on the lake so I can use my phones GPS to see where I am on the lake?

Thanks a ton.....

 

[John3]

Re: Lake Mead... What would you do...?

Ok,
Apparently these boats don't have depth/gps units either- is there a strong cell signal (AT&T or Verizon) on the lake so I can use my phones GPS to see where I am on the lake?.....

Not sure about the Cell Signal at Mead but, I use a Garmin eTrex H, Hand Held GPS. It's made for hikers, I hang it around my neck. Think I got it at Walmart about a year ago.
The way it works. If you know the Latitude & Longitude of where you want to go, enter it & the GPS will point to it & tell you how far it is. When your leaving a place, Camp site, Marina, etc. Mark it & it'll point the way back when you want to return.
This Site will give you the Lat & lon of any place in the world: Latitude and Longitude of a Point. I also got a Cable that hooks the GPS to my Computer so I can download waypoints directly.
The GPS doesn't have a map so it's not like the one in your car. No turn by turn directions. It just points in a straight line to the spot you're heading to, it's up to you to miss Sand Bars, Mountains, etc. Gets you there within about 25 ft.
Have Fun,
John

 

[Woody62]

Re: Lake Mead... What would you do...?

John,

Thanks for the reply, I am just hoping to see where I am while on the lake, rather than get plotted directions or depth. It would help to know when I'm near the cove I want to explore or how far along I am going from one end to the other.

Any ideas if the boats are different from the two areas (one restricted) or where I should go in Boulder? I'm thinking that the restriction may not be that big of a deal given that it takes 3 hours of drive time?? Will the tanks hold enough fuel to get through the day of cruising...


Woody

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Lake Mead... What would you do...?

Hey Woody,

Post up those question over on the Lake Mead thread, a lot of "Mead" people visit that thread often. That thread would be a good read and answer most of your questions.

As for GPS, you won't need cell service since GPS runs off satellites. I wouldn't trust a GPS for accurate shore lines or depth since the lake is 100' low, unless you are using an app that can compensate for depth, which I doubt is on a cell phone app.

Fuel usage depends on how far you're going to run, I'd figure about 3 MPG. I've been out for 3 days on my boat with 27 gallons of fuel and ran 50-60 miles before the fuel gauge started getting low (boat fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate). I had a 5 gallon jerry can on board, but didn't need it.

I'd go out of Calville, the dam is less than 10 miles, Temple Bar over 25 miles. I doubt fuel is going to be cheaper anywhere on the water. Fuel is available at Calville, Heminway and Tbar, no fuel available in the Virgin basin (unless you hike up the hill at Echo and jerry can it down :faint2

 

[Woody62]

Re: Lake Mead... What would you do...?

Fisherdan,

Thanks for the note on the Lake Mead thread- did not know and will do...

I'm not looking for GPS units for 1 day, just wanted to see where I am on the lake with my phone if there is a signal?

Why Calville, better boat?? If staying in the Basin, does the marina make a difference? Calville allows rental out side of Boulder but not sure if I need to take 3 hours of drive timeout.

Woody

 

[John3]

Re: Lake Mead... What would you do...?

=Woody6
It would help to know when I'm near the cove I want to explore


Woody[/QUOTE]
That's the idea of the gps & the lat lon coordinates web site. You look at the lake on your computer, find the places you want to visit, mark them as way points in the gps. The gps will get you there within 25 ft.
It's up to you to miss obsticles.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Lake Mead... What would you do...?

Can't imagine anyone today boating without a GPS?
If you have an Android phone look for a Navionics app. It will work without cell coverage and make your cruise a whole lot less stressful. There are similar apps for other phones.

As far as "How fast and how far can I go?" it's a question most folks ask because that's how their daily lives go. For us, one lake up at Powell, we never went over 10 mph. One canyon was about the same as the next - all were off the chart spectacular. We focused on a daily easy going cruise with a place to beach/anchor at the end of the day.

I'd suggest you scale it down a few notches and smell the roses.


One More Time Around: Houseboat - 2,000 Miles to Lake Powell

 

[Skiya]

Re: Lake Mead... What would you do...?

+1 Navionics also works on iPhone/iPad. If I remember its one time $30 for the app but it has every water way/lake/river in the US, well worth it. I use it at Powell where cell service can be poor to none.